Manipulative toy hoop



oct. 30, 1962 SERETNY 3,060,627

MANIPULATIVE TOY HOOP Filed April 20. 1959 INVENTOR.

S E RETNY ATTO R N EY United States. Patent 3,060,627 MANIPULATIVE TOY HOOP Adolf Seretny, 5805 SE. Rhone, Portland, Oreg. Filed Apr. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 807,563 3 Claims. (Cl. 46-43) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a manipulative toy hoop operative in conjunction with a rolling device which upon proper manipulative motion of the hoop is caused to roll around the inner circumference of the hoop and be retained therein by the action of centrifugal force.

A principal object of the present invention is to pro vide a manipulative toy hoop having improved structure which imparts rigidity to the hoop, and more specifically to provide a structure utilizing a handle portion extending exteriorly around the hoop which serves the double function of reinforcing the hoop.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a manipulative toy hoop having means facilitating the fastening together in a side by side tandem arrangement of two or more of the hoops whereby upon proper manipulation of the assembly of hoops rolling devices can be kept in motion in each hoop.

A still further object is to provide a toy hoop structure of the type described having connecting means for attaching a pair of the hoops together in spaced parallel relation.

It is also another object to provide a toy hoop of the type described which is inexpensively manufactured and is especially adaptable for manufacture from plastic by an extrusion process.

Briefly stated, the hoop structure is annular in configuration and when viewed in cross section such hoop has a pair of channel portions one of which faces inwardly for forming a runway or race for a rolling device and the other of which faces outwardly to form a combination handle and reinforcing band. Connecting means are provided on the sides of the hoop for attaching two or more of the hoops together in side by side tandem relation, if desired. Also forming a part of the present invention are means for connecting two or more of the hoops in spaced, parallel relation on a handle bar or shaft.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the device. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms and all such modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims which will occur to persons skilled in the art are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the hoop of the present invention with a portion thereof broken away to show a rolling device in the runway;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view of the hoop, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manipulation of the hoop in a horizontal position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of a hoop and means associated therewith for mounting it on one end of a handle bar or shaft; and

FIGURE 5 is an edge view of a plurality of hoops connected together in a side by side tandem arrangement.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, the hoop of the present invention is designated by the numeral and assumes a generally annular shape. As seen in cross section in FIGURE 2 the hoop comprises an inwardly facing channel portion 12 forming a continuous runway or race for a ball member B which upon proper manipulative movement of the hoop is caused to be put in motion around such runway. The runway preferably assumes an arcuate shape in cross section and freely receives the ball B, and to maintain the ball in motion therein the hoop is moved through reciprocal paths at a sufficient tempo to hold it against the bottom wall of the runway by the action of centrifugal force.

Other means may be used in lieu of the ball B, such as toy vehicles or the like to travel around the runway, and for this purpose the inner surface of the runway may be smooth as shown or may contain tracks or the like for guiding a toy vehicle or other device.

Comprising an integral part of the hoop 10 is a handle 14 which in cross section assumes a channel shape, the open portion of the channel facing outwardly. The channel walls of handle 14, similar to the runway 12, preferably are arcuate and such handle is preferably joined to the runway 12 by an intermediate body portion 16, although it is to be understood that such pair of channel portions 12 and 14 may be integrally disposed in a back to back relation.

The general structure of the hoop, by reason of the oppositely directed channel portions, is exceedingly rigid whereby a minimum amount of material may be used while still obtaining the desired rigidity. Furthermore, the hoop described is relatively indestructible even though it may be subjected to severe usage. The handle portion 14, therefore, in addition to providing improved structural rigidity to the hoop also provides a convenient gripping portion for the operators fingers, i.e. by reason of the flared walls of such handle a grip is readily obtained thereon with either one or two hands. Furthermore, to increase the rigidity of the hoop and to reinforce the edge portions of the Walls of the runway 12, such Walls may be thickened or beaded at 18 as shown.

In the operation of the present manipulative toy hoop the ball B is placed in the runway 12 and by the proper pendulous and reciprocal motion of the hoop the ball is caused to roll around the runway and be retained therein by the action of centrifugal force. While maintaining the ball in motion the hoop may be moved into various positions such as a horizontal position, FIGURE 3, as long as the tempo of reciprocal movement is sufficient to maintain the ball in the runway by centrifugal force.

Means are provided on the hoop for attaching it to another hoop in side by side relation as seen in FIGURE 5, and for this purpose one side of the hoop has a female or socket portion 22, FIGURE 2, and the opposite side of the hoop has a male or knob portion 24. By engagement of the knob portion 24 on one hoop with the socket portion 22 on another hoop any number of such hoops may be connected together and by practiced manipulation a ball may be kept in motion in each hoop. The knob and socket portions preferably have a snap fit for firmly holding the hoops together and at the same time permitting ready detachment if desired.

Another concept of the invention resides in mounting a pair of the hoops at opposite ends of a handle bar or shaft 28 and for this purpose spoke members 30, connected to a central disc 32 have angular end portions 34 detachably connected to the hoops. Such connection between the spokes and the hoop is accomplished by means of angular finger members 36 on the end portions 34 which hook over one side of the hoop handle 14 and by a pair of inwardly disposed projections 38 on the end portions 34 which engage side portions of the handle opposite from the side engaged by the fingers 36. The projections 38, together with the fingers 36, provide a snap connection between the spokes and the hoop for convenient attachment and detachment as desired.

Spoke members 30 thus support the central disc 32 on the hoop, with the handle bar 28 being attachable to the disc by means of a threaded projection 40 on the bar adapted to extend through a suitable aperture in the disc and receive a wing nut 42. The handle may have the same structure at both ends whereby it is adapted to carry a pair of hoops to provide a structure simulating a bar bell.

It will be seen that the structural arrangement of FIG- URE 4 provides an implement having various functions such as for example one which may be used as a toy wherein it is manipulated by one or both hands for the pleasure of maintaining the rolling devices B in motion in both hoops, or such implement may, while maintaining the devices B in motion, actually serve as a bar bell for exercising the muscles or to develop coordination.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved toy hoop which by its structure is exceedingly rigid and also is resistant to breakage. By its simple construction, the hoop is readily extruded from plastic at small cost.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A manipulative toy hoop comprising an annular body portion having a runway for a rolling device or the like which is adapted to be kept in motion by manipulation of said hoop, female connecting means on one side of said body portion, and male connecting means on the other side of said body portion for detachably connecting a pair of said hoops together in side by side concentric relation by engagement of said female connecting means on one hoop with the male connecting means on another hoop, whereby rolling devices in each of said hoops are adapted to be kept in motion by integrated motion of said pair of hoops.

2. A manipulative toy hoop comprising an annular body portion with a runway for a rolling device or the like which is adapted to be kept in motion by manipulation of said hoop, a socket on one side of said body portion, and a projection on the other side of said body portion for detachably connecting a pair of said hoops together in side by side concentric relation by engagement of said projection on one hoop with the socket of another hoop, whereby rolling devices in each of said hoops are adapted to be kept in motion by integrated motion of said pair of hoops.

3. The hoop structure of claim 2 wherein said socket and said projection extend continuously around said body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,119,921 Levy June 7, 1938 2,644,270 Marong July 7, 1953 2,714,269 Charles Aug. 2, 1955 2,747,196 Kaye May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 506,204 Great Britain May 24, 1939 598,488 Great Britain Feb. 19, 1948 

